Friday, September 30, 2005

The Faith of Habakkuk

Though the fig tree should not blossom
And there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold
And there be no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will exult in the LORD,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
The Lord GOD is my strength,
And He has made my feet like hinds' feet,
And makes me walk on my high places.
For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.
Habakkuk 3:17-19 NASB

This passage forms the end of the book of the prophet Habakkuk. It comes at the end of a long hymn lamenting the just and inevitable judgment of the Lord upon his people. Habakkuk is given a vision of the horror that is coming -- a vision unaccompanied by a call to repentence and the promise of deliverance. No. Agony and heartbreak are coming. It will not be stopped.

And yet, Habakkuk lifts up his voice in praise to God. Such faith! Oh, let it be mine!

Lord, grant me the faith of Habakkuk and the strength to praise you in the crushing times. Amen.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

John, The only real faith is the one that is still there in hard times as well as good.

John said...

Yes. It is that faith that is so hard to hold on to, but essential to survive the inexplicable disasters of life.